kwc
Member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2016
- Messages
- 947
I hiked up Vanderwacker Mountain today, located in the central Adirondacks. Old fire tower at the summit, 360 degree views from the tower. 1800+ feet elevation gain from the trailhead.
![74377A64-76F4-4AA4-9BC0-1FC13DA5C2D5.jpeg 74377A64-76F4-4AA4-9BC0-1FC13DA5C2D5.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92287-19d1fc80c03edcfb508201ccebde3869.jpg)
![F8ED167F-50AE-43C3-8440-151AA5431A02.jpeg F8ED167F-50AE-43C3-8440-151AA5431A02.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92288-518516c24b5ac6f502aa1014f193a5ae.jpg)
the old fire observer’s cabin. Whomever manned this tower was a mountain goat as the trail pretty steep for the 1.75 mile climb to the tower.
![9D7D424A-9E2F-4D65-B1B1-DF11635E43C9.jpeg 9D7D424A-9E2F-4D65-B1B1-DF11635E43C9.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92289-7fa30cdf9d80a33c82a91c9915786483.jpg)
the level part of the trail
![C3E979A1-A0AA-4247-B8D3-1AA596954902.jpeg C3E979A1-A0AA-4247-B8D3-1AA596954902.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92290-7b08e28d60166b077574ea9f1f92e25c.jpg)
Now we’re talking! Steep and often very rocky since it must turn into a stream bed whenever it rains. No switchbacks either.
![FA6D18E3-5A6B-43F2-9BA0-95C8A00FAF7E.jpeg FA6D18E3-5A6B-43F2-9BA0-95C8A00FAF7E.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92291-80ff794fd08a290a3afa0741ebcca801.jpg)
![1AA1F530-8369-4EBC-8D94-AD5D525422CD.jpeg 1AA1F530-8369-4EBC-8D94-AD5D525422CD.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92292-2572ad8e86b883ca733e929c28fc75e3.jpg)
![8344537C-6507-43E5-A604-097795DB11A2.jpeg 8344537C-6507-43E5-A604-097795DB11A2.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92293-404a7febbfe272c0aae91054d95e3d9a.jpg)
![D667F7B2-EEB9-453C-BCDE-87635460046E.jpeg D667F7B2-EEB9-453C-BCDE-87635460046E.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92294-129d9d8206f6b6120b22afa6bc800206.jpg)
![A98B0AF9-0E2D-49C7-93CA-52E0DD89D548.jpeg A98B0AF9-0E2D-49C7-93CA-52E0DD89D548.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92295-9885c0fc1dfe7c31661acc543d9d985e.jpg)
![F576F14C-DBAF-46B9-9953-01B7D6C4A7D7.jpeg F576F14C-DBAF-46B9-9953-01B7D6C4A7D7.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92296-455d82e9ce4fa30d5482fea4a4ea447b.jpg)
It was pretty hazy which can be attributed to the smoke from the western wildfires. Amazing that the smoke travels 3000 miles!
![55739A73-99DB-4F52-AD29-AE99D91E751D.jpeg 55739A73-99DB-4F52-AD29-AE99D91E751D.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92297-71e6bcb8a172de55d4100cc515c43545.jpg)
![12F45FC6-72A6-44FF-BC0F-6C25C6C93456.jpeg 12F45FC6-72A6-44FF-BC0F-6C25C6C93456.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92298-2631f2f767ac37f590dad720f5dca1a9.jpg)
![12F45FC6-72A6-44FF-BC0F-6C25C6C93456.jpeg 12F45FC6-72A6-44FF-BC0F-6C25C6C93456.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92298-2631f2f767ac37f590dad720f5dca1a9.jpg)
![5D609F80-F3C9-4CCD-81F9-DC6B77FEE4FF.jpeg 5D609F80-F3C9-4CCD-81F9-DC6B77FEE4FF.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92299-48cd6f68cac9f33e4604bec1580bc507.jpg)
the tower, not all that tall compared to others in the Adirondacks.
![B36139B3-BBAF-4B91-B9DC-4705CCA0B378.jpeg B36139B3-BBAF-4B91-B9DC-4705CCA0B378.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92300-62757d99746f1053a840b52d5119fa60.jpg)
![F37BF582-A6D0-4746-9103-658387022A99.jpeg F37BF582-A6D0-4746-9103-658387022A99.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92301-55c8b94053f2c16c1bac4b736f7030de.jpg)
![BAE7FBBA-BF27-4686-BD2B-D27BAD8315AD.jpeg BAE7FBBA-BF27-4686-BD2B-D27BAD8315AD.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92302-9ea0811cf05db1c75349f688d74fbebe.jpg)
the colors were really something in the lower elevations. The maples are turning yellow and red but the beech and birch haven’t changed all that much yet. The understory is still pretty green. Temp was in the mid 60s when I started, mid 70s when I got back to the trailhead.
![74377A64-76F4-4AA4-9BC0-1FC13DA5C2D5.jpeg 74377A64-76F4-4AA4-9BC0-1FC13DA5C2D5.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92287-19d1fc80c03edcfb508201ccebde3869.jpg)
![F8ED167F-50AE-43C3-8440-151AA5431A02.jpeg F8ED167F-50AE-43C3-8440-151AA5431A02.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92288-518516c24b5ac6f502aa1014f193a5ae.jpg)
the old fire observer’s cabin. Whomever manned this tower was a mountain goat as the trail pretty steep for the 1.75 mile climb to the tower.
![9D7D424A-9E2F-4D65-B1B1-DF11635E43C9.jpeg 9D7D424A-9E2F-4D65-B1B1-DF11635E43C9.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92289-7fa30cdf9d80a33c82a91c9915786483.jpg)
the level part of the trail
![C3E979A1-A0AA-4247-B8D3-1AA596954902.jpeg C3E979A1-A0AA-4247-B8D3-1AA596954902.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92290-7b08e28d60166b077574ea9f1f92e25c.jpg)
Now we’re talking! Steep and often very rocky since it must turn into a stream bed whenever it rains. No switchbacks either.
![FA6D18E3-5A6B-43F2-9BA0-95C8A00FAF7E.jpeg FA6D18E3-5A6B-43F2-9BA0-95C8A00FAF7E.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92291-80ff794fd08a290a3afa0741ebcca801.jpg)
![1AA1F530-8369-4EBC-8D94-AD5D525422CD.jpeg 1AA1F530-8369-4EBC-8D94-AD5D525422CD.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92292-2572ad8e86b883ca733e929c28fc75e3.jpg)
![8344537C-6507-43E5-A604-097795DB11A2.jpeg 8344537C-6507-43E5-A604-097795DB11A2.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92293-404a7febbfe272c0aae91054d95e3d9a.jpg)
![D667F7B2-EEB9-453C-BCDE-87635460046E.jpeg D667F7B2-EEB9-453C-BCDE-87635460046E.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92294-129d9d8206f6b6120b22afa6bc800206.jpg)
![A98B0AF9-0E2D-49C7-93CA-52E0DD89D548.jpeg A98B0AF9-0E2D-49C7-93CA-52E0DD89D548.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92295-9885c0fc1dfe7c31661acc543d9d985e.jpg)
![F576F14C-DBAF-46B9-9953-01B7D6C4A7D7.jpeg F576F14C-DBAF-46B9-9953-01B7D6C4A7D7.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92296-455d82e9ce4fa30d5482fea4a4ea447b.jpg)
It was pretty hazy which can be attributed to the smoke from the western wildfires. Amazing that the smoke travels 3000 miles!
![55739A73-99DB-4F52-AD29-AE99D91E751D.jpeg 55739A73-99DB-4F52-AD29-AE99D91E751D.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92297-71e6bcb8a172de55d4100cc515c43545.jpg)
![12F45FC6-72A6-44FF-BC0F-6C25C6C93456.jpeg 12F45FC6-72A6-44FF-BC0F-6C25C6C93456.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92298-2631f2f767ac37f590dad720f5dca1a9.jpg)
![12F45FC6-72A6-44FF-BC0F-6C25C6C93456.jpeg 12F45FC6-72A6-44FF-BC0F-6C25C6C93456.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92298-2631f2f767ac37f590dad720f5dca1a9.jpg)
![5D609F80-F3C9-4CCD-81F9-DC6B77FEE4FF.jpeg 5D609F80-F3C9-4CCD-81F9-DC6B77FEE4FF.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92299-48cd6f68cac9f33e4604bec1580bc507.jpg)
the tower, not all that tall compared to others in the Adirondacks.
![B36139B3-BBAF-4B91-B9DC-4705CCA0B378.jpeg B36139B3-BBAF-4B91-B9DC-4705CCA0B378.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92300-62757d99746f1053a840b52d5119fa60.jpg)
![F37BF582-A6D0-4746-9103-658387022A99.jpeg F37BF582-A6D0-4746-9103-658387022A99.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92301-55c8b94053f2c16c1bac4b736f7030de.jpg)
![BAE7FBBA-BF27-4686-BD2B-D27BAD8315AD.jpeg BAE7FBBA-BF27-4686-BD2B-D27BAD8315AD.jpeg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/92/92302-9ea0811cf05db1c75349f688d74fbebe.jpg)
the colors were really something in the lower elevations. The maples are turning yellow and red but the beech and birch haven’t changed all that much yet. The understory is still pretty green. Temp was in the mid 60s when I started, mid 70s when I got back to the trailhead.